Ken Shoku
Mood:  surprised
I have noticed that in all the schools that i've taught in that Kyoto sensei (our vice principal) usually always eats lunch before we do. I always figured that it was so he could do hall duty while the kids ate, but, this week, i learned about ken shoku.

During the period of the shoguns, the servants used to taste meals before the shogun ate. That practice is called "Odokumi" checking against poisoning.

My girlfriend thinks that maybe it's not to check to see if we are going to be poisoned, but rather it follows another custom where fathers and upperclass people used to eat first and then wives and children did.

So maybe it's patriarchy and maybe it is still a noble attempt to protect our kids. You decide!